Heading into Saturday's game against visiting Virginia Tech, North Carolina sophomore P.J. Hairston will likely be the most talked-about Tar Heel.
Quite frankly, it's a title he's held for the past few weeks. As he has blossomed into one of the Tar Heels' most potent scorers, questions about his playing time and consistency have lingered.
And after suffering a concussion on a scary fall late in the first half of Tuesday night's victory at Boston College, whether the Tar Heels will have him at all as they wade deeper into ACC play is a topic that may have a long life span.
Team officials said it's doubtful he'll play when the Tar Heels (14-6, 4-3) welcome the Hokies (11-9, 2-5) to Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels play host to Wake Forest just three days later.
It's a big loss, as few players on the Tar Heels' roster are as intriguing as Hairston. The 6-foot-5 wing has the smooth stroke to stretch defenses and the quickness to exploit them when they do. His sturdy 220-pound frame also allows him to hold his own in the paint, where he's become the team's fourth-leading rebounder and spent time at power forward when the Tar Heels have opted for a smaller lineup.
In the Tar Heels' last three games, he's scored 48 points in just 46 minutes. In fact, he's averaging 0.63 points per minute this season, a figure that's second among ACC players only to Virginia Tech guard Erick Green's 0.71 average.
But he's also one of the team's most vexing pieces, mixing undeniable ability with maddening inconsistency.
He's the Tar Heels' third-leading scorer, averaging 12.4 points per game. But he's had five games in which he's scored six points or less.
As a freshman on last season's veteran-laden Tar Heels, Hairston wasn't shy. He was second to Reggie Bullock in 3-pointers attempted, but had the lowest shooting percentage from beyond the arc of any player with at least 20 attempts. He had good moments, posting six double-figure scoring efforts in the Tar Heels' nonconference slate, including an 11-point outing at Kentucky. But he also had his struggles, battling a handful of injuries and scoring just 14 points in February.
"Last year, around this time, I felt like I was the worst shooter in the country," Hairston said earlier this season.
His performance in last weekend's loss to N.C. State illustrated his complex mix of obvious talent and the occasional lapses that can limit his effectiveness.
Not enough effort
Hairston drew the ire of coach Roy Williams when he didn't pursue a loose ball with enough zeal, allowing a diving Wolfpack player to gain possession. As a result, he ended up spending 23 minutes of the game on the bench.
But in the 17 minutes he played, Hairston hit five 3s, scored 19 points and helped North Carolina cut a 28-point lead to just five in the second half.
"I just can't stomach those kind of things," Williams said of Hairston's inconsistent effort. "I keep giving guys chances when they keep doing things like that, but there's no question that that's the reason he sat out for a long time."
He seemed to take the message to heart, showing considerably more energy three nights later against the Eagles. Prior to his injury, he was active, diving for loose balls, scoring 14 points and hitting all four of his 3-point attempts. He was fouled on the only shot from long range that didn't drop.
But his night ended when he collided in midair with teammate Dexter Strickland. After looking woozy while being helped up by walk-ons, he was taken off the court on a stretcher.
And so a North Carolina team that's still struggling to find its identity will have to move forward for now without one of its most explosive parts.
Quite frankly, it's a title he's held for the past few weeks. As he has blossomed into one of the Tar Heels' most potent scorers, questions about his playing time and consistency have lingered.
And after suffering a concussion on a scary fall late in the first half of Tuesday night's victory at Boston College, whether the Tar Heels will have him at all as they wade deeper into ACC play is a topic that may have a long life span.
Team officials said it's doubtful he'll play when the Tar Heels (14-6, 4-3) welcome the Hokies (11-9, 2-5) to Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels play host to Wake Forest just three days later.
It's a big loss, as few players on the Tar Heels' roster are as intriguing as Hairston. The 6-foot-5 wing has the smooth stroke to stretch defenses and the quickness to exploit them when they do. His sturdy 220-pound frame also allows him to hold his own in the paint, where he's become the team's fourth-leading rebounder and spent time at power forward when the Tar Heels have opted for a smaller lineup.
In the Tar Heels' last three games, he's scored 48 points in just 46 minutes. In fact, he's averaging 0.63 points per minute this season, a figure that's second among ACC players only to Virginia Tech guard Erick Green's 0.71 average.
But he's also one of the team's most vexing pieces, mixing undeniable ability with maddening inconsistency.
He's the Tar Heels' third-leading scorer, averaging 12.4 points per game. But he's had five games in which he's scored six points or less.
As a freshman on last season's veteran-laden Tar Heels, Hairston wasn't shy. He was second to Reggie Bullock in 3-pointers attempted, but had the lowest shooting percentage from beyond the arc of any player with at least 20 attempts. He had good moments, posting six double-figure scoring efforts in the Tar Heels' nonconference slate, including an 11-point outing at Kentucky. But he also had his struggles, battling a handful of injuries and scoring just 14 points in February.
"Last year, around this time, I felt like I was the worst shooter in the country," Hairston said earlier this season.
His performance in last weekend's loss to N.C. State illustrated his complex mix of obvious talent and the occasional lapses that can limit his effectiveness.
Not enough effort
Hairston drew the ire of coach Roy Williams when he didn't pursue a loose ball with enough zeal, allowing a diving Wolfpack player to gain possession. As a result, he ended up spending 23 minutes of the game on the bench.
But in the 17 minutes he played, Hairston hit five 3s, scored 19 points and helped North Carolina cut a 28-point lead to just five in the second half.
"I just can't stomach those kind of things," Williams said of Hairston's inconsistent effort. "I keep giving guys chances when they keep doing things like that, but there's no question that that's the reason he sat out for a long time."
He seemed to take the message to heart, showing considerably more energy three nights later against the Eagles. Prior to his injury, he was active, diving for loose balls, scoring 14 points and hitting all four of his 3-point attempts. He was fouled on the only shot from long range that didn't drop.
But his night ended when he collided in midair with teammate Dexter Strickland. After looking woozy while being helped up by walk-ons, he was taken off the court on a stretcher.
And so a North Carolina team that's still struggling to find its identity will have to move forward for now without one of its most explosive parts.
